Hello and thanks to everyone who came to the LetThemTalk end of year party at L'abre a Canelle restaurant and O'Sullivan's Irish Pub on Saturday night.
This blog will continue from time to time but we are migrating a lot of stuff to our Facebook group. Please search for LetThemTalk on Facebook to find us.
Want to win the lottery? Try Bulgaria where the same set of numbers came up two weeks running, the chances of that happening are several million to one
The island of Bermeja has gone missing. Which is a pity because its territorial waters could be worth billions to Mexico. Did the CIA blow it up? Sounds fishy. From the Times
One man in Wales claims he suffered discrimination at his work by being prevented from wearing a hood which is central to his faith - he's a jedi. From the Guardian
Cricket is a popular bat and ball game played mainly in England and countries that were formerly in the British Empire such as India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa and Caribbean countries that form "The West Indies" team. A game of cricket can last up to 5 days so don't go and watch it if you're in a hurry. However, there are also 1 day versions of the game (though these are frowned upon by purists).
Do NOT confuse cricket with croquet (Lord! how many times have I heard that happen). Just to be sure here is a video of highlights of a cricket game.
Cricket has also left its mark on the language here are 5 common English phrases originating from the game of cricket.
1. To bowl over meaning: To be astonished, greatly surprised and excited, left speechless. Example: I saw U2 live in concert last month and I was bowled over by their performance. meaning in cricket: You bowl (throw) the ball at the wicket (sticks) if you hit them the batsman must leave the field.
2. To hit for six Meaning: To be deeply shocked or hurt (by someone/thing) Example: When my wife left me it really hit me for six. Meaning in cricket: To hit the ball over the boundary without it bouncing on the ground (which gets six runs (points).
3. A sticky wicket Meaning: A difficult situation Example: "We only have 20 pounds to last us 'til the end of the month", "Yes, it's a sticky wicket". Meaning in cricket: The wicket area (ground in fround of the stumps) has become sticky due to rain making in difficult to play on.
4. It's not cricket Meaning: to play unfairly or against the rules of fair play (cricket has a reputation as a gentlemen's game played by honest people). Example: "In order to get the job he lied about his experience and criticised the other candidates," "Yes, it's not cricket"
5. To stump (to be stumped) Meaning: to have no idea, to be confronted by a problem you can't find the solution to. Example: The exam was going well until they asked me a question about the Russian Revolution and I was completely stumped. Meaning in cricket: To remove the bails in a game meaning the batsman is out (has to leave the game).
Good luck to one of LetThemTalk's students, Corinne who has set up her a jewellery and accesories business. All the creations are handmade. You can see them at an Expostion- vente at 17 rue Lacharriere (Square Gardette) or visit her website.
British actor, comedian, writer and presenter Stephen Fry. Led a troubled life as a young man. An arrogant youth, confused and trying to come to terms with his sexuality (he is gay) the angry 16 year old was out of control.
35 years later Stephen has written a heartfelt letter to his 16 year old self. Moving and beautifully written you can find it here on The Guardian's website.
If you're unfamiliar with Stephen Fry here's a sketch he made with his comedy partner Hugh Laurie (Dr House) in the 1980s. From "A Bit of Fry and Laurie"
In London's Trafalgar square there are 3 statues a fourth statue was intended on the site but was never completed. The plinth however still remains. This is the famous "fourth plinth". Since 1999 a series of temporary works have occupied the plinth. From July to October 2009 a remarkable now work by Anthony Gormley.
For 100 days 2400 people will occupy the plinth for one hour. It's part of a living artwork. Anthony Gormley himself describes the artwork in this video
But did you know that what Britain's national dish is? Fish and chips? Steak and Kidney pie? You might be surprised to learn that it is (according to a survey in 2000) Chicken Tikka Massala A dish invented in Glasgow in the 1960s using a mix of Indian spices.
At the recent G20 summit in London Chef Jamie Oliver provided a menu for the visiting dignatiries made from all British ingredients (except soda bread which is Irish) Full story here - Jamie Oliver's G20 menu
The most surprising thing about the G20 dinner was the choice of drink - London tap water.
If your looking for some inspiring ideas on interior design then you should definitely look at a new blog written by LetThemTalk's very own Jo. Vracajo Follow her blow and learn everything you always wanted to know about brico and deco. Which I think translates as DIY and decoration.
This is John Stewart from The Daily Show's brilliant and hilarous demolition of financial journalists and particularly CNBC who time and time again not only predicted things wrongly but also gave bad advice during the current financial crisis. Video is especially for Marie. Thanks for the fridge magnet.
Here is something to discuss at the class. It is a test taken from The Times that determines your "Brain sex" which may not be the same as your biogogical sex. Do the test here.
Ivan has organised another amazing LetThemTalk soirée this Saturday night (you should have received his email). It'll take place in the Oberkampf neighbourhood of Paris.
This is also the last chance to bid farewell to 2 participants of the English courses who are moving on to new challenges far away from Paris. Estelle has taken a position in Lyon while Takeshi will be representing the Japanese government in Haiti. Good luck to both of them. If you find yourself in Port au Prince in the near future Takeshi has promised to show you round.
I regurlarly receive emails from students that are sometimes confusing. Here are a few examples of mistakes in English often made by French learners.
1. "Next Saturday". Today is Wednesday 18th so when is next Saturday? The answer is Saturday the 28th. Saturday 21st would normally be referred to as this Saturday.
2. There are only 7 days in a week. To my knowledge, there is no such day as "Thuesday". Perhaps you mean Tuesday or Thursday? Almost every week I get a Thuesday reservation and have to write back for more information.
3. Further to point 2 the days of the week in English have capital letters. So it's Tuesday and not tuesday so do months and adjectives of countries.
4. We do not use "normally" to talk about future events. Normally has a similar meaning to usually. So do not say "normally I will be there next Wednesday". Say "I should be able to be there next Wednesday"
5. Similarly we do not use "could" to talk able future ability. Do not say "I don't think I could come tomorrow" do say "I think I will be able to come tomorrow".
6. The word assist in English is not the same as assister in French. They are false friends. Do not say "I will assist at the class". Do say "I wil attend the class". The English word "assist means to help.
7. The preposition "to" is used to talk about going to destinations. Do say "next week I will go to London" (not in London).
There are many, many more such cases but that's the end of today's lesson.
The Specials, one of the greatest bands from the late 1970s and early 80s have reformed. They played Ska music a blend of rock and reggae. Their song Ghost Town written in 1981 is about high unemployment during the financial crisis which devastated towns and communities troughout Britain. Sound familiar?
Thank you everyone who came to the LetThemTalk soirée on Saturday at the pub St Hilaire. Special thanks to Ivan for organising it. Next soirée coming up in March.
A new English Conversation Workshop will take place every Tuesday morning between 11am and 1pm. The level is intermediate/advanced starting 20th January 2009. Contact me if you want to take part.
Nouveau cours d'anglais "The English Conversation Workshop" tous les mardis entre 11h et 13h a partir de 20 janvier 2009. Niveau intermédiaire/avancé. Contactez moi pour encore d'information.
Actor Patrick McGoohan has died aged 80. Star of the cult 60s TV series "The Prisoner" about an ex-secret agent held captive on an island from which he is trying to escape. His most famous line from the show is "I am not a number I am a free man". Here is the opening sequence. Vocabulary: "By hook or by crook" is an English expression meaning by any means possible.
An English friend of mine, Ashun Sierra, is currently in Paris. Ashun is an ICC certified Life Coach. Life coaching, if you are not familiar, is a form of one-to-one tuition to help determine and achieve personal goals. Ashun is offering the first consultation free of charge. To find out more information please call 06 43 21 04 25.
It's cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey! = ?? I don't know! Can someone help me with a translation of this peculiar English expression?
For anyone out there who has tried (and failed) to get the hang of social networking sites might find this video amusing.
Happy New Year everyone I hope 2009 will be joyful and profitable for you all.
Courses begin on 5th January, if you want to participate (and you haven't already) contact me by the usual means. more details at www.letthemtalk.fr
Every year an update to the English dictionary comes out with a number of new entries. 2009 is no different a number of new words have entered the dictionary for the first time. Many of which such as frenemy and jargonaut I have never heard of myself. Full story here
I have found an excellent new blog for learning English called http://www.anglais-facile-cours.com/ written by Jonathan Lewis an English teacher in Provence. He's recorded some videos too. This is Jonathan explaining the difference between "say" and "tell"